Mohun Bagan

Football India

September 23, 1989

A commemorative postage stamp on the Centenary of the Mohan Bagan Athletic Club (A.C.), oldest existing football club in India :

Issued by India

Issued on Sep 23, 1989

Issued for : The Club completed a hundred years of its meritorious existence, to commemorate which a postage stamp is being issued.

Description of Designs : The stamp is based on designs supplied by the Club, depicting its footballing tradition. The logo of the Club has been used on the First Day Cover. The pictorial cancellation showing a football in the centre, has been designed by Ms. Nenu Gupta.

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Colour : Multi colour

Denomination : 100 Paise

Overall size : 3.91 x 2.90 cms.

Printing size : 3.55 x 2.54 cms.

Perforation : 13 x 13

Paper : Imported un W/M Adh. Gr. Coated Stamp Paper

Number Printed : 15,00,000

Number per issue sheet : 35

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printed : India Security Press

About :

Mohun Bagan Athletic Club was established in 1889. At that time Indian football was in its infancy. The Britishers were then considered as an indomitable footballing side. In 1911, a band of 11 bare-footed intrepid Bengalee footballers became the first Indian side to win the coveted Indian Football Association (IFA) shield under the captaincy of Sibdas Bhaduri defeating the might of the finest British combination, East Yorkshire Regiment. Though a triumph in a particular sporting event, it symbolised an Indian victory over the foreign rulers, thus making it a matter of rejoicing for every Indian. The club thereafter came to be recognised as a national institution. It heralded the advent of football in the East, and influenced the game in the whole of Asia. Since then the Club has had a glorious sporting tradition. It is an achievement for a sports body to carry on its activities for one hundred years retaining its prestigious traditions and status. Two of its players have been honoured by the award of Padma Shree for outstanding achievements in the field of football.
The Club also broke the tradition of having only British military teams to participate in the Durand Cup Football Tournament, in 1923 in Simla. Subsequently, the Club was also invited for the Rovers Cup Tournament.
The Club’s activities are not restricted to Football alone, but also cover Cricket, Tennis, Athletics, etc. in which fields also it has earned a good reputation of not having protested against the decisions of referees, in the true spirit of sports. The hockey team of the Club was initially captained by Jaipal Singh, under whose captaincy India also won the first Olympic Hockey Gold Medal at Amsterdam in 1928. Major Dhyan Chand, the wizard of hockey, had also played for the club during his Calcutta visits. The Club is also proud of producing a number of Olympians in hockey.
Text : Courtesy Mohun Bagan Athletic Club.